Lesser-Known Museums to Visit on Holidays in Tuscany

Holidays in Tuscany just aren't complete if you don’t take the opportunity to explore the culture of this wonderful Italian region. For some, visiting the major museums like the Uffizi or the Leonardo da Vinci Museum is quite enough, but others need more to sate their hunger for Tuscan art, history and culture.

If you are part of the latter group, then you’ll definitely want to add these museums to your list of must-visit attractions while on holidays in Tuscany.

1. Bargello National Museum, Florence – If you're on the lookout for Renaissance art – especially sculptures – then you will find a lot to like in the Bargello National Museum. The palace was a former base for the Council of Justice and a former residence of the Captain of Justice (aka chief of police). Its severe countenance was preserved through the years and serves as the backdrop for many sculpted pieces, from masters such as Michelangelo and Donatello to Cellini and Verrocchio.
2. The Pisa Charterhouse, Pisa – If you are a lover of sciences, then the Pisa Charterhouse is a must-see while on holidays in Tuscany. This monastery is in itself a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, but the real prize is the museum located within. It boasts the largest collection of cetaceous remains in Europe, with an extensive display of skeletons of whales, porpoises, dolphins and related species. This will all help you better understand the many marine mammals populating our seas. A dinosaur exhibit is also in the pipeline and will nicely complement the cetaceous exhibit.
3. Orto Botanico dell'Università di Siena, Siena – The Botanical Gardens of the University of Siena are a marvellous sight, even for those only vaguely familiar with horticulture. Ordered flowerbeds, vast vineyards, fruitful orchards and lush greenhouses all provide the perfect venue to observe thousands of plants found in Italy and throughout the world.
4. Diocesan Museum, Cortona – Various religious paintings, frescoes and artefacts adorn this former church. Luca Signorelli’s workshop provided quite a few of the pieces contained within, including the Lamentation of Christ and the Communion of the Apostles. There is also a remarkably crafted Roman sarcophagus made of marble. The Diocesan Museum of Cortona is a must-see venue for those interested in learning about the importance of religion throughout the region.
5. Museo della Deportazione, Prato – This is the shortened name for the Museo e Centro di Documentazione della Deportazione e Resistenza, or the Museum and Centre of Documentation of Deportation and Italian Resistance. This sombre museum exhibits documents and photographs showing the rise of fascism in Italy – most notably the spread of concentration and extermination camps. It's not exactly a fun venue to visit, but understanding the darker side of history helps sharpen one’s appreciation for the past as well as the future.

Keep all these museums in mind and you’ll have plenty to feed your hunger for art, culture and history while on holidays in Tuscany.

Carolyn Spinks is COO of ABTOI - The Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy. If you’re looking for the perfect holidays in Tuscany the LoveItaly website provides destination information, contact details of tour operator members to help plan the best Italian holiday, insider tips, year round special offers and information on everything from beach holidays in Sardinia, cycling in Sicily, to a wedding or honeymoon in Tuscany.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.